Wringer



L 6, 19 6- J. B. cAsTlNb 2,055,252

WRINGER Filed March 1, 1954 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Jay/v 5. 6,9; 77/\/0 BY W fill/LUV ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to wringers and more particularly to a wringer of the type conventionally attached to a power-driven washing machine.

An object of the invention is to provide a wringer combining a maximum of safety and a quick means for reversing its rotation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reversing mechanism which is operable by manually tilting a wringer roll in either direction from the vertical center line.

Another object is to provide a simplified and efficient reversing mechanism more economical of manufacture than are similar devices now in use.

In the drawings:-

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a wringer apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section of the reversing apparatus unmeshed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View of Fig. 3 showing the device meshed to rotate the wringer rolls in one direction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l designates a vertical shaft which may be connected to any source of power. At the upper end of the shaft I0 is fixed a spiral gear II shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. A pair of spiral gears l2 and I3, are set at right angles to gear H and are in constant mesh therewith. The gears l2 and !3 are fixed on shafts M and I 5, the latter being rotatively mounted in the wringer head it.

The wringer proper is supported in a frame ll, having a base board IS. The lower wringer roll l 9 has a shaft 2!] fixed therein which is freely supported in the bearings 2! and 22 which, in turn, rest on the trapped coil expansion springs 23, 23, 24, (not shown) and 24. The upper wringer roll 25 has a shaft 2501. which is journalled in the cams 26 and 21, which latter are integral with the handle member 28. In the position shown in Fig. 3 the upper roll 25 may be freely lifted out of the assembly by means of the handle 28.

The frame H is provided with longitudinally extending inwardly disposed detent pins 29, 29', 30', (not shown) and 30.

The shafts l4 and i carry a pair of spur gears 3! and 3!, on the ends thereof adjacent the upper wringer roll 25. A spur gear, 32, is fixed on the end of shaft 25a, adjacent the gears 3| and 3! the latter being so spaced as toseparately mesh with gear 32, if and when the handle 28 and roll 25 are tilted in either direction from vertical central alignment.

The cams 26 and 2'! have detents as at 33 and 33' designed to impinge against the pins 29, 29', 30 and 30.

In operation, the source of power will rotate the shaft H] with the spiral gears ll, l2 and I3 and the spur gears 35 and 3|. Assuming that the handle 28 is in vertical position, the gears 3| and 3| will rotate free and clear of the spur gear 32. To rotate the wringer rolls it is necessary to tilt the handle 28 transversely of the rolls, thus forcing the detents on one side of the handle under the adjacent detent pins. This action will securely engage the spur gear 32 with the rotating spur gear 3| or 3|. The spur gear 32 will always engage the gear adjacent the upper side of cam 26. In the engaged position the mesh is securely held by the pinioning of the detents under the related pins, and the contact of the upper sides of the cams 26 and 2'! with the opposite pins together with the contact of the upper and lower rolls 25 and I9 as well as'the contact of the meshed gears.

It is to be understood that other methods and structures may be employed to maintain the gears in mesh.

Various modifications in structure and design may be used in producing the device Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a wringer of the class described, a source of power, a vertical drive shaft associated therewith, a gear on the head of said shaft, a pair of horizontal shafts, a pair of gears on the latter in mesh with the vertical shaft gear, a wringer roll, a gear fixed on one end thereof, a pair of gears on said horizontal shaftsadjacent the roll gear, and means for shifting the wringer roll whereby the roll gear may be meshed with either of said shaft gears.

2. A reversible wringer comprising a frame, a rotatable roll fixed therein, a rotatable roll movable laterally with reference to the frame, a gear fixed on said movable roll, a pair of spaced normally reversely rotating driving gears, and manual means for swinging the movable roll from a perpendicular center line drawn midway between the centers of the driving gears in either direction to mesh its gear with either of said driving gears.

3. In a reversible wringer, a manually shiftable wringer roll, vertical driving means constantly in mesh with horizontal twin driving means and adapted for opposite rotation, a gear on said wring'er roll, and gears on said horizontal driving means positioned to mesh with the gear on said roll when the latter is shifted. f

4. In a reversible wringer, a frame, a fixed lower roll adapted for free rotation, trapped springs supporting said fixed roll against downward pressure, a handle member, journal bearings extending downwardly at right angles to said handle member and adapted for lateral shifting by lateral arcuate movement of said handle member, an upper roll journaled for free rotation in said bearings, vertical driving means constantly in mesh with horizontal twin driving means adapted for opposite rotation, a gear on said wringer roll, and gears on said horizontal driving means positioned to receive the gear on said" {the gear on said roll when the latter is shifted,

roll when the latter is shifted.

5. In a reversible wringer, a manually shift-i able wringer roll, vertical driving means con= stantly in mesh with twin horizontal driving means adapted for opposite rotation, a gear on said wringer roll, gears on said horizontal driving means positioned to mesh with the gear on said roll when the latter is shifted, and means for maintaining said roll gear in meshed position.

6. In a reversible wringer, a frame, a lower roll fixed therein and adapted for free rotation, trapped springs supporting said roll against downward pressure, a handle member, journal bearings extending downwardly at right angles to said handle member and adapted for lateral shifting by lateral arcuate movement of said handle member, an upper roll journaled for free rotation in said bearings, vertical driving means constantly in mesh with twin horizontal driving means adapted for opposite rotation, a gear on said wringer roll, gears on said horizontal driving means positioned to receive the gear on said roll when the latter is shifted, and means for maintaining said roll gear in meshed position.

'7. In a reversible wringer, a frame, a lower roll fixed therein and'adapted for free rotation, trapped springs supporting said roll against downward pressure, a handle member, journal bearings extending downwardly at right angles to said handle member and adapted for lateral shifting by lateral arcuate movement of said handle member, an upper roll journaled for free rotation in said bearings, vertical driving means constantly in mesh with twin horizontal driving means adapted for opposite rotation, a gear on said wringer roll, gears on said' horizontal driving means positioned to receive the gear on said roll when the latter is shifted, detent pins on said. frame, and means on said journal bearings for engaging the pins to maintain said .roll gear in meshed position. 1

8. In a reversible wringer, a frame, a lower roll fixed therein and adapted for free rotation, trapped springs supporting said roll against downward pressure, a handle member, journal bearings extending downwardly'at right angles to saidhandle member and adapted for lateral shifting by lateral arcuate movement of said handle member, an upper roll journaled for free rotation in said bearings, vertical drivingmeans constantly in mesh with twin'horizontal driving means adapted for opposite rotation, a gear on said wringer roll, gears on said horizontal driving means positioned to'receive the gear on said roll when the latter is shifted, detent pins on'said frame, and means on said journal bearings to engage thepins and co-act with the trapped springs to maintain said roll gear in meshed position.

9 In a' reversible wringer, a frame, a lower roll fixed therein and adapted for free rotation, trapped springs supporting said roll against downward pressure, a handle member, journal bearings at the ends of said handle extending downwardly at right angles thereto and adapted for lateral shifting by lateral arcuate movement of said handle member, an upper roll journaled for free rotation in said bearings, vertical driving means constantly in mesh with twin horizontal driving means adapted for opposite rotation, a gear on said wringer roll, gears on said horizontal driving means positioned to receive detent pins on said frame, and cam faces formed exteriorly of said journal bearings adapted to engage the pins to maintain said roll gear in meshed position.

1 0'. In a reversible wringer, a frame, a lower roll fixed therein and adapted for free rotation, trapped springs supporting said roll against downward pressure, a handle member, journal bearings at the ends of said handle extending downwardly at right angles thereto and adapted for lateral shifting by lateral arcuate movement of said handle member, an upper roll journaled for free rotation in said bearings, vertical driving means constantly in mesh with twin horizontal driving means adapted for opposite rotation, a gear on said wringer roll, gears on said horizontal driving means positioned to receive the gear on said roll when the latter is shifted, detent pins on said frame, and cam faces formed exteriorly of said journal bearings adapted to engage the pins and co-act with the trapped springs for maintaining said roll gear in meshed positions.

11. In a reversible wringer, a frame, a lower roll fixed therein and adapted for free rotation, trapped springs supporting said roll against downward pressure, a handle member, journal bearings at the endsof said handle extending downwardly at right angles thereto and adapted for lateral shifting by lateral arcuate movement of saidhandle member, an upper roll journaled for free rotation in said bearings, vertical driving means constantly in mesh with twin horizontal driving means adapted for opposite rotation, a gear on said wringer roll, gears on said horizontal driving means positioned to receive the gear on said roll when the latter is shifted, detent pins on said frame, and cam faces formed exteriorly of said journal bearings adapted to engage the pins and co -act with the trapped springs for maintaining said roll gear in meshed position, the detent pins being spaced to permit the removal of handle member and bearings when the latter are vertically disposed.

12. In a reversible wringer, a frame, a lower roll fixed therein and adapted for free rotation, trapped springs supporting said roll against downward pressure, a handle member, journal bearings extending downwardly at right angles to said handle member and adapted for lateral shifting by lateral arcuate movement of said handle member, an upper roll journaled for free rotation in said bearings, vertical driving means constantly in mesh with twin horizontal driving means adapted for opposite rotation, a gear on said wringer roll, gears on said horizontal driving means positioned to receive the gear on said roll when the latter is shifted, detent pins extending inwardly horizontally on said frame, and means on said journal bearings for engaging the pins to maintain said roll gear in meshed position.

JOHN B. CASTINO. 

